Chapter 142 : The New Ten Kings. -01

Chapter 142: The New Ten Kings. -01

Drip.

Was it because he had heard something he had never expected?

Sama Uiseong suddenly choked up and tears streamed down his face.

All the hardships he had endured until now flashed past like a lantern parade.

As the image of his past self—never acknowledged by anyone—rose in his mind, his tear ducts burst open.

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine. Use this to wipe your face.”

“Thank you. And please speak comfortably. You’re older than me, hyung.”

“May I ask how old you are?”

Ban Hojin already knew Sama Uiseong’s age, but he asked as if he did not.

In this life, it was their first meeting. He could not act overly familiar.

“I’m eighteen!”

“You’re the same age as Joun. But you look much younger.”

“Please speak casually, hehe.”

“Alright. But have you learned your Family-Inherited Martial Art?”

At last, when Ban Hojin dropped formal speech, Sama Uiseong beamed.

With the casual tone, it truly felt as though he had entered Ban Hojin’s group.

Perhaps because of that, his heart felt strangely at ease and secure.

Moreover, Ban Hojin’s choices had never once failed.

“Yes. But there’s a slight problem.”

“Part of it was lost, wasn’t it? I thought your aura seemed a bit unstable.”

“You can see that too?”

“At my level, I can tell at a glance.”

“Wow.”

To someone else, it might have sounded like empty boasting.

But Sama Uiseong did not think so in the slightest.

The one who had spoken was Ban Hojin.

He was not only the foremost candidate for the next Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, but he had also single-handedly captured the Green Forest Great Lord and the Blue and Red Twin Fiends, personally proving his own Martial Scriptures.

Because it was a man like that who had spoken, Sama Uiseong did not doubt him in the least.

“You plan to restore it, right?”

“Yes. It’s my Main House’s martial art. And as a Murim power, I think a Family-Inherited Martial Art is absolutely necessary. The family collapsed because of the previous generation’s wrong choices, but there’s a saying that one learns from failure. We won’t make mistakes this time.”

“That’s a good mindset. How far has your research gone? If you need anything, I’ll look it up in the Scripture Pavilion. I’m only a Lay Disciple, so there are limits to what I can access—but still, you never know.”

“Really?”

“In exchange, you help train the others.”

Ban Hojin did not intend to simply offer help.

He intended to receive as much as he gave.

And Sama Uiseong had more than enough ability for that.

Though the current Sama Uiseong was already impressive, Ban Hojin knew his future self. He planned to create a stepping stone so he could grow even further.

“Of course! I’ll help however I can! But how should I help?”

“You’re good at something, aren’t you? Qimen Formations. At the same time, you need to build experience too. If the opponents are the Nine Dragons, wouldn’t that be more than enough to gain experience?”

“……!”

Sama Uiseong’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Certainly, if it was Qimen Formations, it would benefit them all.

However, one question arose.

He had never mentioned it, yet Ban Hojin knew.

Sama Uiseong could not quite understand that.

“The Sama Family was famous for Qimen Formations. You even competed against the Zhuge Family in formation duels. It’s an old story now, though.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps reading the question in his eyes, Ban Hojin immediately continued.

With that explanation, Sama Uiseong quickly accepted it.

“Shall we unpack your luggage first? It looks like you brought quite a lot. All important items, I assume?”

“Yes.”

“Then I should give you a separate room. You have too much baggage.”

“Th-that would be appreciated.”

At the natural offer of a private room, Sama Uiseong did not refuse.

Though they would grow closer in time, for now it was still unfamiliar.

His personality was somewhat shy to begin with.

Even so, he had sought out Ban Hojin because he was that desperate.

“Let’s unpack first, then greet everyone properly. We’ll be living together from now on.”

“Yes!”

Sama Uiseong answered with a bright smile.

It could not have been better than this, and the smile would not leave his face.

“H-huh?”

Inside a circular space, Seo Joun staggered awkwardly.

When he heard it was a formation that twisted the senses, he had thought it would be nothing special. But experiencing it firsthand was beyond imagination.

With the five senses seemingly jumbled at will, Seo Joun kept stumbling, unable to maintain his balance.

“See? I told you it’d be different once you experienced it yourself.”

“Even when I circulated my Inner Energy, it didn’t help. It felt like I regained my bearings for a moment, then everything reverted. Uiseong must’ve adjusted it separately.”

“That’s right.”

Though it was a simple Qimen Formation, Sama Uiseong was demonstrating that when someone from the Sama Family deployed it, it was different.

However, the reality was slightly different.

The martial artist inside the circle was none other than the Blazing Dragon, one of the most prominent Later-Generation Experts in Jianghu.

Because of that, Sama Uiseong had to constantly focus, paying attention to the wooden rods that served as the axis of the formation.

“Still, it’s amazing. To think a Qimen Formation can be deployed with just those small sticks.”

After Seonwu Bang and Murong Cheok, even Jeong Iryong watched Sama Uiseong with fascinated eyes.

More precisely, he watched Sama Uiseong’s hands that moved without rest.

In his hands were numerous wooden sticks about two cheok long, which he either planted into the ground or pulled out according to Seo Joun’s movements.

“As far as I know, it can also be deployed with stones. Or by using the terrain itself. A true master of Qimen Formations can deploy one with a single stick or stone.”

“Hoo.”

At Ban Hojin’s explanation, Jeong Iryong was astonished.

The phrase “all paths return to one” came to mind.

Though the fields differed, once they reached the extreme, they seemed to resemble one another. Qimen Formations appeared no different.

“Of course, Uiseong isn’t at that level yet. But if we help him, he’ll grow quickly. It’ll benefit you all too.”

“It’s interesting.”

Seonwu Bang nodded.

Though he had gained quite a variety of experiences until now, a Qimen Formation at this level was a first.

Moreover, this was not the only formation Sama Uiseong could deploy.

He also had considerable skill in Bewitching Formations and Maze Formations.

“I like that attitude—enjoying it. As long as you don’t embarrass yourself.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Wasn’t it dangerous earlier? You were completely out of it in the Bewitching Formation.”

“Absolutely not!”

Seonwu Bang shouted, his face flushed red in a way unlike his usual self.

But strong denial was strong affirmation.

The others seemed to notice as well, openly snickering.

“Bewitching Formation and Maze Formation are just the beginning. Uiseong can also deploy Illusory Formations. Right?”

“Actually, the one I’m most confident in is Illusory Formation. Especially the type that works instantly on men.”

“Heh heh heh!”

Though he answered cautiously, confidence shimmered in his eyes.

And Ban Hojin knew exactly which Illusory Formation Sama Uiseong was most confident in.

He had experienced it firsthand in his previous life.

Of course, compared to that time, his current level was lacking—but it would still be more than enough to torment the Four-Man Group.

“Why are you smiling like that? You’re making me uneasy.”

“Because it sounds fun?”

“…Whenever you say something’s fun, I get strangely anxious.”

“It’ll be a good experience for you too. I recommend trying it in advance.”

“That makes me even more uneasy. What is it?”

Seonwu Bang’s gaze turned toward Sama Uiseong.

However, Sama Uiseong only gave an awkward smile and could not answer.

Ban Hojin had signaled him not to respond.

And personally, Sama Uiseong also thought it would be more effective if he were caught off guard without knowing.

‘This is nice.’

Sneaking glances at Ban Hojin and Seonwu Bang bickering, Sama Uiseong felt warmth spread through his heart.

The loneliness of always being alone had constantly pressed down on him.

He had suffered from nightmares almost every day.

But now, it was different.

He was feeling a comfort he had never once experienced in his life.

Moreover, he could physically feel himself growing stronger each day.

‘If hyung hadn’t accepted me….’

Sama Uiseong’s face darkened.

It was a meaningless assumption now, yet he still thought about it sometimes.

What would have happened if Ban Hojin had not accepted him?

He likely would have continued wandering Jianghu alone, as he had before coming to Songshan.

‘That’s why I must work even harder. For the hyung who believed in me. And for myself.’

Because he had always been alone, living like this—amid noise and companionship—made Sama Uiseong incredibly happy.

And he was glad that he could train whenever he wished.

Moreover, these were not Third Rate Martial Artists.

Every single person here was a Later-Generation Expert belonging to the Nine Dragons.

In the past, he would not have even dared to greet such people.

Now he could spar and experiment with them every day.

To Sama Uiseong, each day felt far too short.

Fwoooosh!

At that moment, a scorching wave of heat burst outward.

Seo Joun, who stood inside the Qimen Formation, had begun to properly circulate the Blazing Deity Divine Art.

It was not merely abundant Inner Energy—it was an overwhelming Extreme Yang Energy that altered the surrounding environment itself.

Sama Uiseong’s gaze sharpened.

It was rare to experience Extreme Yang Energy of this magnitude.

With focused eyes, his hands moved swiftly.

Whoooong.

Astonishingly, the heat began to subside little by little.

He was suppressing the rising heat.

But he did not merely suppress it.

He created four openings through which the heat could escape.

“Tch!”

At the sight, Seo Joun twisted his lips.

The heat was being controlled in a way entirely different from his own.

“That’s enough.”

“Yes.”

“Whew.”

Ban Hojin halted the evenly matched clash.

If it continued, it would place strain on both of them.

Training was important—but more important than that was avoiding injury.

While recovering from an injury, one could not train.

In a sense, it meant wasting time.

That was why Ban Hojin valued this aspect above all.

“Good work.”

“You too. But next time, I’ll definitely break out.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

“What I deployed just now is only one of the hundreds of Qimen Formations I know.”

Watching the two, who seemed to bicker even more because they were the same age, Ban Hojin smiled in satisfaction.

Thankfully, they appeared to be getting along well.

Though Seo Joun spoke like that, perhaps because they were the same age, he subtly looked after Sama Uiseong.

Even if he vehemently denied it with words.

“Looks like he’s secretly happy to have a friend.”

“He was always the youngest.”

“Not that he had any maknae-like cuteness to begin with.”

No sooner had Seonwu Bang finished speaking than Murong Cheok nodded.

Seo Joun showed deference only to Ban Hojin—not to the others.

One would think he might show some respect to him as well, yet Seo Joun displayed none of that.

“He’s not the type to act cute in the first place. What are you expecting?”

“True. That’s fair. Still, the more I see Qimen Formations, the more impressive they seem. The Zhuge Family must be at this level too, right?”

“They should have a similar level. But Uiseong is improving every single day.”

“So it really is an exceptional level?”

Not only Seonwu Bang but also Murong Cheok and Jeong Iryong looked curious.

They were outsiders to Qimen Formations.

They knew it was impressive—but not exactly how impressive.

“Yes. But Qimen Formations aren’t without weaknesses. There are limits to deploying them alone.”

“First of all, they require quite a bit of preparation time.”

Having experienced it directly, both Seonwu Bang and the others understood how terrifying Qimen Formations could be.

However, they were not without flaws.

Everyone knew that.

“But conversely, if properly prepared, Qimen Formations are incredibly frightening. They can send off not just one or two—but hundreds, even thousands.”

“In other words, he’s a genius?”

“Yes.”

Ban Hojin’s smile deepened.

Simply watching was enough to fill him with satisfaction—and anticipation.

Perhaps, before long, he might see Sama Uiseong become the Demonic Strategist he was once called.

“Shaolin Temple doesn’t really feel like it’s under the tension of impending war.”

“It’s quite far from the Great Desert.”

“But they must be preparing in their own way, right?”

“They likely are.”

Listening to his father’s reply, Namgung Gwang glanced at his twin younger sisters following behind.

They had practically been dragged here against their will.

So Namgung Gwang carefully observed his younger sisters’ expressions.

“What are you looking around so nervously for?”